— Festival Reading in Cuba - "The Hour of The Ambassador"
— Festival Reading - "Dog Days of August"
— Festival Reading - "Prehensile in the Park"
— José Martí readings in the park.
with a special readings in the evening.
Stay tuned for more information. We have booth/table space available for artists and authors.
We will have readings during the day in Memorial Park from 1:30 to 4pm. See below for times and names of readers.
Visitors should bring a lawn chair or blanket for the in the park readings.
- see reader list below.
This one day CCLA Art and Lit Fest is linked to the Stellare Literary Festival and the Purdy Country Literary Festival. The CCLA will have a CCLA readers at both sister festivals. If you are a CCLA member or you would like to become a member we would be happy to have you read with us.
We will be publishing a CCLA Art and Lit Fest anthology with work considered by workshop contributors and readers.
You can navigate through this webpage quickly with the list of links on the left top of this page.
Memorial Park - Downtown Brighton - you can't miss it.
All are Welcome!!! Tell a friend!!! Bring your family!!!
Biographical Sketch of MC: R.D. Roy is originaly from Montreal. His Anglo/Francophone heritage and working class background are often reflected in his writing.
He's published two collections of short stories, The Colours Found in Bruises, (Panegyric Press) and a short novel, A Pre-emptive Kindness, (Hidden Brook Press). His work has appeared in several anthologies and Montreal's Matrix magazine. Roy's first book of poetry, Three Cities, will be released by Hidden Brook Press in early 2008.
Roy was a feature reader at the International Book Fair in Havana (2007, 2008), the Al Purdy People's Poetry festival, 2007, and with Toronto's DUB poetry collective (2006, 2007).- He is the "Official House Poet" to the Organic Undergound Reasaurant in Belleville!
Roger Dorey is a published author, blues singer living in Kingston.
Graham Ducker lives is the author of "Dont Wake the Teacher" and "
Shane Joseph is the author of the novel "Redemption in Paradise" set in his native civil-war ridden Sri Lanka, and a collection of short stories "Fringe Dwellers" being released this Fall. He has three other novels in various stages of readiness.
Donna Langevin is the author of "Improvising in the Dark", "The Second Language of Birds", and "In the Cafe du Monde.
Jen Londry; It would not be enough to say that Jen Londry sits at a desk by a window and writes, when her work is such a keen and un-nerving perspective on our lives.
Susan Lynn Reynolds is an award winning novelist and short story writer, but only recently started calling herself a poet. Her first poetry chapbook skinned was launched in February this year.
Janet Richards is a poet & journalist from Belleville, Ontario. Author of "Glass Skin" (Hidden Brook Press, 2008), Janet is also a member of the Canada Cuba Literary Alliance.
Poems by José Martí, Cuba's national poet, will be read by Cuban, Alberto Domenech as part of "Prehensile in the Park"
Alberto was an associate professor of language in Cuba and now volunteers as a translator for immigrants in Kingston, Ontario. He moved from Cuba to Canada this year and has recently been involved in building connections with his homeland.
He and fellow Kingstonians are collecting used computers and radio-control hobby equipment to send to Cuba. They have arranged to bring 4 Cuban radio-control enthusiasts to visit Kingston this summer.
Imaginary Cuba: Susan Lynn Reynolds will be facilitating a series of writing-on-thespot exercises using various prompts and triggers intended to send poets' on an inner journey to a Caribbean landscape from which they will return laden with gifts from the Muse.
for a published anthology that will be published by CCLA.
Info about this anthology will be given at the workshop.
Biographical Sketch of MC: James Dewar is the organizer and host of the popular Toronto series, Hot-Sauced Words. Now in its third year, this innovative, fun show is unique in its emphasis on audience participation and on-the-spot poetry challenges.
His first book of poetry, The Garden in the Machine was published by Hidden Brook Press (March 2007). A freelance writer for the last five years, he has contributed dozens of stories and articles to various magazines and publications. His 2005 chapbook, Guys in Garages sold out all three printings. James' poetry has also been selected for several anthologies and literary journals.
He is currently the Public Relations Director for the Writer's Circle of Durham Region and offers workshops on writing poetry, erotica, and poetry feature-reading and performance strategies.
James was also one of the 27 writers chosen to represent Canada during the international Random Acts of Poetry celebration in October 2007.
Allan Briesmaster is a freelance editor and literary consultant, and the author of nine books of poetry, including Interstellar (Quattro Books, 2007). Since 1998, working with several literary presses, he has been instrumental in the production of more than 50 books of poetry and non-fiction. His poetry has appeared in many journals, including, most recently, Carousel, Vallum, and The Literary Review of Canada, and he has given readings in venues from Halifax to Victoria. Allan lives in Thornhill, ON with his wife Holly, a visual artist with whom he has collaborated several times.
John B. Lee, Poet Laureate of Brantford has travelled to Cuba on four separate occasions. Thus far three of those occasions have been under the banner of the CCLA. He and his wife will be returning to Cuba in the winter of 2009. This fall his book of Cuban poems, Island at the Wind-Breathed Edge of the Sea, will be released by Hidden Brook Press. His work has appeared internationally in over 500 publications. A recipient of over 60 prestigious awards, the most recent of his nearly fifty published books include But Where Were the Horses of Evening, and The Place That We Keep After Leaving. He lives in Port Dover where he works as a full time author.
Ruth Walker is a poet, writer, playwright, and editor.
Selected credits include: Contemporary Verse 2, River King Poetry Supplement (US), Rain Dog (UK) Canadian Children's Literature, online at UBC's Terry and Creative Science Journal, Words on Paper, and Regina Weese; several poetry and fiction anthologies; and, one-act plays produced through Whitby Courthouse Theatre and StoneCircle Theatre, Ajax. New poetry is forthcoming in the Scottish journal Chapman and in Prairie Fire in Manitoba.
Ruth won the 1996 Canadian Living Short Story prize; the 1998 & 2005 Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest; and the 2001 Ghost Story Contest, Trent University Writers and Readers Fair. Among her other achievements, she won 3rd place in the 2008 Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award.
In 2007, she was named an artist in residence at Durham Alternative Secondary School through an Ontario Arts Council pilot project.
A founding editor for LICHEN Arts & Letters Preview, Ruth is on the Board of Directors of Driftwood Theatre Group. A writer/editor for the Ministry of Education, she teaches creative writing in workshops, retreats, and community programs, and maintains a freelance editing and writing service.
Married and the mother of four, Ruth writes and lives in Whitby, Ontario.
Kim Grove will be leading a poetry workshop for children called "Dancing With Words". Children will be challenged to write a poem about Canada that may be selected for a future edition of the CCLA literary journal, "The Ambassador".
Biographical Sketch: Kim is a freelance writer who is teaching writing to a women's group in Brighton and is currently organizing a short story writing program for children at her local library this summer. Check out her recent article about "Children and the arts" in the summer edition of Watershed Magazine.
for an art filled experience.
with special training in therapeutic art.
We use the word booth loosely. There will be a designated area for art and lit booths and a designated area for art and lit tables. There will not be any walls, tables, easels or chairs provided. You will receive a chalk mark on the ground and all of the brighton fresh air that you can take in.
Booths will be allocated a 10 foot by 10 foot area where they will set up their tables and tents.
Tables will be allocated a 5 foot by 5 foot area where they can set up their table of books.
Please note the difference between booth and table space fees below.
FREE!!!!! If you are a CCLA member your table or gooth space is FREE!!!!!
Don't forget that CCLA membership is only $40.00 and pays for a 4 issue subscription of The Ambassador.
Remember that tables and chairs are not provided.
and booth space is in an area that is shaded by trees.
- Exhibitors are recommended to bring their own shade as not all areas will be under trees. Bring anchors for your tents, umbrellas, tables, rocks to hold down your books and papers, etc.
- Bring plastic in case of rain, easels for art and books.
- Bring your own tables and chairs.
- Bring a floor mat or small rug. Grass is sometimes damp and cold. If you bring a mat or rug it will protect the grass and your cloths.
- There is no electricity so don't bring your light display - do not bring a generator to run lights.
Send us a SASE with a note and your cheque and we will mail you a recept.
Make a reservation and go for dinner or lunch.
Aslo see below for HBP retreat info.
There is plenty of parking at the China King.
We will have a private back room for dinner and the readings.
There is close access to the buffet counter for self serve, all you can eat.
"A gathering of thePeople's Poetry Tribes"
Friday, August 1st – Meet & Greet – Visitors can get acquainted at a riverside meet and greet on Friday evening, Aug. 1, in the hamlet of Malone at ZenRiver Gardens. Poets are encouraged to bring their books to sell and trade, and Tai Grove of Hidden Brook Press (Brighton) is setting up a large tent to display his selection of Quinte area authors. There is the possibility of visual artists also displaying at ZenRiver Gardens.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – Noon to 1:30 – a symposium on Al Purdy and People's Poetry will be at the Madoc Public Library. Presenters include Allan Briesmaster, Jeff Seffinga and Terry Barker.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – 3 pm at the Marmora Inn. Poety reading – the editors of "Crossing Lines: poets who came to Canada in the Vietnam War era", Allan Briesmaster and Michael Berzensky, will host a reading by poets in this anthology. James Deahl, Daniel Kolos, the editors and others will read at The Marmora Inn. "Crossing Lines" is reviewed in this issue of "Umbrella".
Saturday, Aug. 2 – 5:30 pm with music by Morley Ellis. Another dam poetry reading' will take place on a tiny island in the middle of the Marmora dam. Scheduled readers include Paul Brown (Belleville), Katharine Beeman (Montreal), Jim Larwill (the wilds of Quebec, where he's been living with a pack of wild wolves), Paulos Ioannou (Toronto), Kemeny Babineau and others. Everyone is invited to read one poem in the Open Set.
Sunday, Aug 3, 1pm, ZenRiver Gardens – The Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance will also feature a group reading, hosted by Tai Grove and featuring R.D. Roy, James Deahl, Stella and Graham Ducker, Deborah Panko and Shane Joseph.
Sunday, Aug 3, 4pm, ZenRiver Gardens – features a full schedule of group events in Malone. There will be a group reading by The Valley Poets, including Becky Alexander, Katherine Gordon, Stella Preda, Wendy Visser, Stan White and others. This reading is scheduled to begin at 4 pm at ZenRiver Gardens retreat.
Monday, Aug 4 – Poets will visit the gravesite of Governor General poet Al Purdy in the settler cemetery in Ameliasburgh on their way home from PurdyFest on Monday afternoon.
>story) ... man, better stop now.
>$10, but the little wooden box had 4 $20 bills & totalled $125!!!
>commented that it is a piece of heaven on earth.
>her first song was in Aramaic.
>to drive until I had had my first meal since an early brunch, I accepted.
>watermelon. Man, I should have been eating with them every nite.
>So PurdyFest matured in its crucial sophomore year!
>bring out their second production.
>proud that you kept his vision alive as well.
>positive & democratic & participatory framework.
>well as their many peers.